Battery-connector.



N. HALE.

BATTERY CONNECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED B11027. 1913 Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Inventor UNITED STATES FATE OFFICE.

NOAH HALE, OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS BATTERY-CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

Application filed December 27, 1913. Serial No. 809,010.

Battery-Connectbr, of which the followingis a specification.

' The present invention appertains to hattery connectors, and aims to provide a device of that character embodying an electrical conductor'and terminal clips therefor of I Unique construction to engage the binding posts and nuts of batteries.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a'clip embodying a novel construction and assemblage .of parts, which will render the-clip eflicient in its use, and Whichwill enable-the clip to be manufactured at a comparatively small expense, and in a convenient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to-pr'ovide novel means for assembling the conductor and terminal clips.

' With the foregoinggeneral objects outlined, and with other objects in View, which will be apparent as the nature of the invention-is-better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of-partsand in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the T invention herein disclosed, can be-madewithin. the scope of what is claimed, withouti'departing from the spirit of the -invention.,;'

. The invention has been illustrated in its preferred "embodiments in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elei'fation of the connector as in use. Fig. 2 is 'a plan view of one element or part of one clip. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the other part or element of the clip. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of one. clip, illustrating the parts or elements thereof assembled, and illustrating the man- I ner of conr ectisig the conductor thereto.

Fig. 5 is a i iewslmilar to Fig. 4, depicting the conductor as completely attached to the clip. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the sheath as attached to the g 1 clip. I Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a -gnodifiediorm of clip. Fi 8 is a bottom p 11 view of the modified form of clip illusv ti ated in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side View of another variation of the clip illustrated in. Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive.

ductor 1, and the connections or unions be-- tween the conductor and clips, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Each of the clips 2 embodies a leaf spring or resilient catch 5, which is provided with an aperture 6 at its butt end, and with later-. ally projecting ears or lobes 7 adjoining and at the sides of the aperture. The leaf spring or catch 5 is also provided with an eye 8 adjoining its free end, the free end of the spring or catch being bent angnlarly, or upturned, as at 9. The other part or element of the clip embodies a catch or clutch 10, preferably bent from a length of wire, the wire being doubled to provide an eye or loop 11 at its bend or intermediate portion, and the arms or sections 12 of the wire being bowed or curved apart, at 13, adjoining their free ends,- to provide arcuate jaws.

The catch. 10 projects in the same general the free or outer diverging ends of the jaws 13.

In assembling the two parts or elements of the clip, the eye or loop 11 of the part 10 is seated against the. butt end of the spring catch 5 1n coincidence with oraround the aperture 6, and. the ears or lobes 7 are bent downwardly over the sides of the eye 11 to serve as a temporary means for attaching the parts or elements of the clip together.

The jaws 13 are offset, so as to be spaced from the spring catch 5, as will be apparent by reference to the drawings, it also being apparent that the angular end 9 of the spring catch 5, and the angular ends 14 of the catch it), diverge from each other, or spread apart. The end 9 of the spring catch 5 is bent away from the catch 10, and the jaws 13 are curved away from the axis of the aperture 8.

The aperture or opening 8 of the catch 5 is in register withv the opening between the jaws 13 of the catch 10, for the purposes which will hereinafter be described. After the parts or elements of the clip have thus been assembled, one end of the conductor 1* is attached to the clip, this being preferably accomplished by dividing or separating the strands 3, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and then threading or lacing the two sections of stran'ds through the eye 11 and aperture 6, as illustrated at 16 in Fig. 4. The extremities of the strands are then bent back and fastened by interlacing them as at 17 in Figs. 5 and 6. 'To complete the union between the conductor and clip, -a drop of solder 18 within the aperture 6 and eye 11 will attach the strands 3 to the clip, and will also attach the parts or elements of the clip together, to provide a compact and eflicient joint, which will withstand both electrical and mechanical tests.

After the conductor and-clip have been attached, the sheath 4 which is slipped over the conductor, has its respective end slipped over the joint between the conductor and clip, and a binding cord 19 is wrapped around the said end of the sheath over the said joint, or between the said joint and the catch elements 5 and 10 proper of the clip. This will insulate the joint, and will also inclose and protect the same, as well as lock ing the sheath to the clip. The other clip may be attached to the other end of the conductor' in the same manner, the sheath t being slipped back upon the conductor 1, and then after the clip has been attached to the conductor, the free end of the sheath may be secured over the second joint in the manner above described.

The two parts or catches of the clip may be readily punched or formed with dies, and may be readily and inexpensively assembled with each other, and with the conductor.

The conductor 1 will be free to flex between the clips,-to avoid breaking or rupturing the strands 3, 'it being noted that the solder 18 does not extend to such points of the conductor, as would render the strands rigid. The threading or lacing of the strands through the apertures 6 and eyes 11 of the clips, will also facilitate the ready flexing of the conductor.

In use, the connector is employed in the usual capacity for connecting a pair of batteries or the like, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the batteries including the binding posts 20 and the binding nuts 21 threaded thereon. With the present connector, the terminals of the conductor are not clamped underneath the binding nuts as usual, which is objectionable for several reasons, as will be apparent, but on the other hand, the clips 2 afl'ord convenient and eilicient means for quickly and effectively attaching the terminals of the conductor to the binding posts and nuts. Thus, the jaws 13 of the catch 10 of each clip are adapted to spread apart to engage over the sides of the binding nut, within the circumferential groove of the nut, and the spring catch 5 is adapted to yield away from thecatc'h 10, in order that the catch '5 may snap over the binding post 20, the binding post beingengaged by the aperture 8. Thus, the catch 5 in engaging the bindingpost, will lock the catch 10 upon the binding nut, and at the same time, catch 10 engaging the circumferential groove of the binding nut,

will lock the catch 5 upon the binding ost.

Consequently, each clip will be locke to the respective binding post and'nut, and

will havea three point contact with the bindingpost and nut, to assure the proper electrical connection. It is evident that the clips may swing about the axes of the bind ing posts, to permit the conductor to flex, and to also create a slight abrasive action for cleaning on any corrosion between the contacting parts. The clips thereforeafford convenient and efficient meansfor at taching the conductor to the batteries, and

for establishing an electrical connection beto be slipped out of engagement with the binding nuts. The diverging ends 14 of the arms 12 of the catches 10 facilitate b11601]; gagement of the said catches over the binding nuts, while the diverging portions 9 and 14 of each -clip facilitate the engagement of the catches'over the heads of the nuts, and the engagement of the catches 5 over the ends of the binding posts.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. the clip 2 embodies the leaf spring or catch 5' having the apertures 6 and 8 as above described, and the angular end 9. The other catch 10' comprises a doubled wire. the bend or bight of which is engaged by the ears or lobes 7 of the catch 5'. The jaws 13' constitute section s or segments of a nut. or the like. the ends of the catch 10 engaging through the-jaws 13' to carry the same snugl beneath sthe spring catch 5'. The jaws 13' have contracted throat or mouth 15 therobetween and the spring 5 is preferably oflsct upwardly to accommodate the jaws 13'. as seen in Fig. 7.

The clip illustrated in Figs. 7 and S'is attached to the conductor in the manner above described. and which need not be re iterated. The clip 2' is adapted for use on a binding post 20 without the-binding nut thereon. the binding nut being discarded or removed. in order to permit the jaws 13' to snap over the sides of the binding post or lug, whilethc spring catch 5' is adapted to engage over the end of the binding post in the manner above described.

In the form of clip illustrated in Fig. 9, the construction is similar to the clip 2 above described, with the exception that the catch 10 is straight, while the catch 5 is offset to sli htly alter the transmission of the strains rom the conductor to the binding posts and nuts.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is In a device of the character described, a clip embodying a leaf spring having means at its free end to engage over the end of a binding element, an aperture at its butt end, and cars at the sides of the apertures, and a doubled Wire catch having its bent portion seating against the butt end of the spring around the said aperture, the arms of the catch. forming jaws to engage the sides of the binding element, and the said ears being bent over the bent ortion of the catch; a conductor engage through said aperture and the bent portion of the catch; and solder within the said aperture and bent portion of the catch for securing the corresponding parts together.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NOAH HALE.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. RUNCK, F. J. ONZON. 

